The Oceans Law and Policy Conference, hosted by Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM), took place in Istanbul under the collaborative efforts of the world’s foremost maritime law centers. Themed “Secure, Safe, and Sustainable Navigation,” the conference, held under the auspices of DEHUKAM, was graced by the esteemed letter of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. President Erdoğan underscored Türkiye’s unwavering commitment to the Montreux Convention, its role in diffusing tensions in the Black Sea, and its composed stance in the Aegean.
In its 46th edition, this year’s conference witnessed the gathering of renowned maritime jurists, policymakers, and practitioners from around the globe. Approximately 40 countries were represented by speakers and participants, drawing keen interest from diplomatic missions, public institutions, and the maritime sector within Türkiye.
Collaborating with ten international organizations, Türkiye’s hosting of this conference garnered international acclaim, owing to the diverse portfolio of participants and the caliber of sponsoring entities. Distinguished representatives and leaders from institutions such as the U.S. Naval War College Stockton Centre for International Law, #KoreaMaritimeInstitute, World Maritime University, #JapanInstituteofInternationalAffairs, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security University of Wollongong (#ANCORS), Gujarat Maritime University, and the IMO IMLI are poised to contribute to the conference’s overarching objective of promoting safer, more secure, and sustainable maritime practices.
The conference program, addressing the intricate realms of maritime and ocean law and policy, has received accolades from the United Nations and has been accredited as part of the UN Ocean Decade Program.
Following the opening program held on September 21, 2023, the first session of the conference, moderated by His Excellency Awn Al-Khasawneh, former Prime Minister of Jordan and Member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), brought together speakers from Greece, Palestine, the USA, and MFA of Türkiye to deliberate on the theme of “Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
For the first time in its 46-year history, this conference was organized under the auspices of Türkiye, in collaboration with the İMEAK Deniz Ticaret Odası and the TİKA – Türk İşbirliği ve Koordinasyon Ajansı.
The ongoing sessions of the conference delved into topics such as Maritime Developments from the Perspective of Secure, Safe, and Sustainable Navigation, Sustainable Maritime Practices, Freedom of Navigation, BBNJ, Continental Shelf, Maritime Security, Decarbonization and Marine Environment.
It is with great anticipation that we await the enlightening discussions and contributions that will shape the future of maritime law and policy during the remainder of this conference.
